I always feel sickened at this time of the year, how the “services” have become so comercialised.
People think they must make a statement by giving money they have/havent got.
I have been to a shul where members put pressure on their peers to raise their donation to the shul. Last year they were pressurising someone who didnt have the money they were making him promise! This is pure “chamas” – a type of gezel. Is it worth a shul staying in existence through funds that are solicited in such a way? I wonder!